Novel RAT calcium channel subunits and related probes, cell lines and methods

ABSTRACT

Novel sequences for calcium channel α 2 δ-2 and α 2 δ-3 subunits are provided. Also provided are cell lines that express the novel calcium channel subunits of the invention. These cells may be used for identifying compounds capable of stimulating or inhibiting the activation of the calcium channels.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of copending U.S. Ser. No. 10/924,081 filed 23 Aug. 2004, now allowed, which claims benefit of U.S. provisional application 60/497,096 filed 22 Aug. 2003. The contents of these documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novel calcium channel α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 DNA and protein compositions, and to the expression of these compositions in cell lines for use in evaluating calcium channel function and in screening for agonists/antagonists for these channels.

BACKGROUND ART

Voltage-gated calcium channels are a heterogeneous family of membrane proteins, which respond to depolarization by opening a calcium-selective pore through the plasma membrane. The influx of calcium into cells mediates a wide variety of cellular and physiological responses including excitation-contraction coupling, hormone secretion and gene expression. In neurons, calcium entry directly affects membrane potential and contributes to electrical properties such as excitability, repetitive firing patterns and pacemaker activity. Calcium entry further affects neuronal function by directly regulating calcium-dependent ion channels and modulating the activity of enzymes such as protein kinase C and calcium-dependent calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Furthermore, an increase in calcium concentration at the presynaptic nerve terminal triggers the release of neurotransmitters. Calcium entry also plays a role in neurite outgrowth and growth cone migration in developing neurons and is implicated in long-term changes in neuronal activity. In addition to the variety of normal physiological functions mediated by calcium channels, they are also implicated in a number of human disorders. Recently, mutations identified in human and mouse calcium channel genes were found to account for several disorders including, familial hemiplegic migraine, episodic ataxia type 2, cerebellar ataxia, absence epilepsy and seizures. (See, for example, Fletcher, C. F., et al., Cell (1996) 87:607-617; Burgess, D. L., et al., Cell (1997) 88:385-392; Ophoff, R. A., et al., Cell (1996) 87:543-552; Zhuchenko, O., et al., Nature Genetics (1997) 15:62-69. The clinical treatment of some disorders has been aided by the development of therapeutic calcium channel modulators or blockers. Janis, R. J. and Triggle, D. J. (1991) in Calcium Channels: Their Properties Functions Regulation and Clinical Relevance, CRC Press, London).

Native calcium channels are classified by their electrophysiological and pharmacological properties as either high voltage-activated (L, N, P, and Q types) or low voltage-activated channels (T-type). R-type channels have biophysical properties similar to both high and low voltage-activated channels. (For reviews see McCleskey, E. W. and Schroeder, J. E., Curr. Topics Membr. (1991) 39:295-326, and Dunlap, K., et al., Trends Neurosci. (1995) 18:89-98.) T-type channels are a broad class of molecules that transiently activate at negative potentials and are highly sensitive to changes in resting potential. The L, N, P and Q-type channels activate at more positive potentials and display diverse kinetics and voltage-dependent properties. There is some overlap in biophysical properties among the high voltage-activated channels, consequently pharmacological profiles are useful to further distinguish them. L-type channels are sensitive to dihydropyridine (DHP) blockers, N-type channels are blocked by the Conus geographus peptide toxin, ω-conotoxin GVIA, and P-type channels are blocked by the peptide ω-agatoxin IVA from the venom of the funnel web spider, Agelenopsis aperta. A fourth type of high voltage-activated Ca²⁺ channel (Q-type) has been described, although whether the Q- and P-type channels are distinct molecular entities is controversial. Conductance measurements of several types of calcium channels have not always fallen neatly into any of the above classes and there is variability of properties even within a class, suggesting that additional calcium channels subtypes remain to be classified.

Biochemical analyses show that neuronal calcium channels are heterooligomeric complexes consisting of three distinct subunits (α₁, α₂δ and β) (reviewed by De Waard, M., et al., in Ion Channels, Volume 4, (1997) edited by Narahashi, T., Plenum Press, New York). The α1 subunit is the major pore-forming subunit and contains the voltage sensor and binding sites for calcium channel blockers. The mainly extracellular α₂ is disulphide-linked to the transmembrane δ subunit and both are derived from the same gene and are proteolytically cleaved in vivo. The β subunit is a non-glycosylated, hydrophilic protein with a high affinity of binding to a cytoplasmic region of the α1 subunit. A fourth subunit, γ, is unique to L-type calcium channels expressed in skeletal muscle T-tubules. The isolation and characterization of γ-subunit-encoding cDNA's is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,025, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The DNA's encoding the amino acid sequences of seven different types of α1 subunits (α₁A, α₁B, α₁C, α₁D, α₁E, α₁F and α₁S) and four types of β subunits (β₁, β₂, β₃ and β₄) have been cloned. (Reviewed in Stea, A., et al., “Voltage-gated calcium channels” in Handbook of Receptors and Channels (1994) Edited by R. A. North, CRC Press). PCT Patent Publication WO 95/04144, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses the sequence and expression of α₁E calcium channel subunits.

In some expression systems the α₁ subunits alone can form functional calcium channels although their electrophysiological and pharmacological properties can be differentially modulated by coexpression with any of the four β subunits. Until recently, the reported modulatory affects of β subunit coexpression were to mainly alter kinetic and voltage-dependent properties. It has now been shown that β subunits also play crucial roles in modulating channel activity by protein kinase A, protein kinase C and direct G-protein interaction. (Bourinet, E., etal., EMBO J. (1994) 13:5032-5039; Stea, A., etal., Neuron (1995) 15:929-940; Bourinet, E., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) (1996) 93:1486-1491.)

The α₂δ subunits comprise at least four types encoded by different genes. The first subunit identified was α₂δ-1 from rabbit skeletal muscle (Ellis, et al., Science (1988) 241:1661-1664). Five tissue-specific splice variants exist (Angelotti, T. and Hofmann, F., FEBS Lett. (1996) 397:331-337). α₂δ-2, -3 and -4 have been identified recently in human and mouse (Klugbauer, N., et al., J. Neuroscience (1999) 19:684-691; Qin, N., et al., Mol. Pharmacol. (2002) 62:485-496). These α₂δ subunits share 30% to 56% amino acid identity with the α₂δ-1 subunit as well as several structural motifs, such as similar hydrophobicity profiles, glycosylation sites and cysteine residues. α₂δ-1 and α₂δ-2 subunits are expressed in many tissues including the brain and heart, while α₂δ-3 is found only in the brain (Klugbauer, et al., 1999 (supra)). A recent report showed that IGF-1 stimulates α₂δ-3 expression in cultured rat atrial myocytes. (Chu, P. -J., J. Mol. Cell. Cardiology (2003) 35:207-215.) The α₂δ-4 subunit is distributed in certain cell types of the pituitary, adrenal gland, colon and fetal liver (Qin, et al., 2002 (supra)).

A number of physiological roles have been proposed for the α₂δ-2 subunit, including acting as a tumor suppressor gene, and a mutation in the mouse homolog, resulting in a truncated α₂δ-2 has been identified as a contributing factor to the ducky epileptic phenotype (Gao, B., et al., J. Biol. Chem. (2000)275:12237-12242; Brodbeck, J., et al., J. Biol. Chem. (2002) 277:7684-7693). The antiepileptic gabapentin binds to the α₂δ-1 and -2 subunits, but not to α2δ-3 (Marais, E., et al., Molec. Pharmacol. (2001) 59:1243-1248).

α₂δ-1 increases the current density of calcium channels by increasing the amount of functional channel at the cell surface and enhances dihydropyridine binding to L-type channels and ω-conotoxin GVIA to N-type channels (Brust, P. F., et al., Neuropharmacology (1993) 32:1089-1102; Felix, R., et al., J. Neurosci. (1997) 17:6884-6891). α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 significantly enhance and modulate the Ca²⁺ current through a number of HVA and LVA channels (Klugbauer, et al. (1999) (supra); Gao, et al. (2000) (supra); Hobom, M., et al., Eur. J. Neurosci. (2000) 12:1217-1226).

Recently, the molecular cloning of α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits from rat atria was reported. (Chu, P- .J., et al., 2003 (supra)). Cloning of rat α2δ-2 and α2δ-3 subunits from rat brain tissue has not been previously disclosed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The materials and methods of the present invention add to the repertoire of rat α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunits previously known. Also provided are cell lines that express the novel calcium channels of the invention. These cells may be used for identifying compounds capable of acting as agonists or antagonists to the calcium channels.

Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to isolated nucleic acid molecules which contain a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence that is shown in SEQ. ID. NO:3, 6, 9 or 11, or a functional portion thereof. In another aspect, the invention relates to the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits themselves in isolated form that have an amino acid sequence that is shown in SEQ. ID. NO:3, 6, 9 or 11, or fragment of said sequence which retains the activity of this subunit. The invention is also directed to recombinant materials and methods for production of these proteins and displaying them on cells. When displayed on cells which also produce, contain and display at least an α₁ subunit, the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits of the invention in combination with the α₁ subunit provide active calcium ion channels which can be used to identify agonists and antagonists of calcium ion channel activity.

In other aspects, the invention is directed to nucleic acid probes that are specific for the particular α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunit mRNA's of the invention which permit the detection of expressed mRNA encoding the α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 protein. In addition, antibodies which are immunospecific for the particular α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 proteins of the invention can be used to map the distribution of the protein in cells and tissues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The data in FIGS. 1A and 1B show a comparison of the amino acid sequence of the rat brain α₂δ-2 calcium channel subunit (SEQ. ID. NO:3) to that of the rat atria α₂δ-2 calcium channel subunit (AF486277; SEQ. ID. NO:1).

The data in FIGS. 2A and 2B show a comparison of the amino acid sequence of the rat brain α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunit (SEQ. ID. NO:6) to that of the rat atria α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunit (AF486278; SEQ. ID. NO:4).

The data in FIGS. 3A and 3B show a comparison of the amino acid sequence of the rat brain α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunit splice variant (SEQ. ID. NO:9) to that of the rat atria α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunit (AF486278 SEQ. ID. NO:4).

The data in FIG. 4 show rat α_(1B)+β_(1b) Ca²⁺ channel current density when tested in the presence and absence of rat α₂δ-2.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention provides amino acid sequences for novel rat calcium channel α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits, as well as nucleic acid sequences which encode these subunits. As described in the Background section above, it is understood that α₂δ subunits alone do not mediate transport calcium across the cellular membrane; however, they increase the current density of calcium channels by increasing the amount of functional channel at the cell surface and enhancing binding of certain ligands. Typically, the α₂δ subunits require the presence of an α₁ subunit, and are preferably expressed or assessed in the additional presence of β type subunits. If the α₁ subunit employed is from an L-type channel, the additional presence of a γ subunit is also desirable.

As described in the Background section above, there appear to be four specific types of this subunit, α₂δ-1, α₂δ-2, α₂δ-3 and α₂δ-4. While in their native expression, each of these types may preferentially be associated with a particular class of calcium ion channel (e.g., L, P/Q, N, T and the like), each of these subunits is functional when in association with any α₁ subunit with the optional addition of any type of β subunit. Although the text herein refers to α₂δ because this is the protein encoded by a single gene, the encoded protein is hydrolyzed after translation into the α₂ and δ portions; the α₂ portion is mostly extracellular and is disulfide linked to the δ subunit which remains in the cell membrane. By “functional α₂δ subunit” is meant the entire amino acid sequence encoded by the gene or any portion thereof which, when associated with an α₁ subunit and optionally a β subunit enhances the density of current flow in the calcium ion channel thus created. Thus, is it understood that small numbers of amino acids, e.g., 10-15 or 20 amino acids might be removed from each of the α₂ and/or δ portions while the remainder of the sequence retains functionality as described above. Thus, a “functional portion of the α₂δ subunit” refers to these truncated forms.

A compound, such as a nucleic acid molecule or a protein is referred to as “isolated” when it is removed from its natural environment. It may or may not be pure. “Isolated” simply means that the molecule is in a context where it is not found in nature. For example, a nucleic acid comprising a particular nucleotide sequence is “isolated” when contained in a recombinant DNA molecule coupled to additional nucleotide sequences with which it is not normally associated. Similarly, the “protein” is isolated when it is not in the context of its native cell. “Isolated” α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits, for example, are frequently found in the context of a displayed calcium ion channel in a heterologous cell which has been modified to produce this protein.

Although in some instances, an α1 subunit displayed at a cellular surface may be functional at some level in the absence of additional subunit types, the presence of the α₂δ subunit greatly enhances the current density when the channel is activated. Accordingly, the production of α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3 subunits for display on cells which also display at least α₁ subunits is important for use in screening assays to identify compounds that modulate the activity of the calcium ion channel.

The particular α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits that constitute the present invention were isolated and identified from rat brain. The amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ. ID. NO:3 is an α₂δ-2 calcium channel subunit which is present in rat brain. SEQ. ID. NO:3 is 1,150 amino acids in length and has a molecular weight of 130 kDa. It is encoded by a nucleotide sequence containing 3,450 base pairs (bp) which is contained in the 4,993 bp sequence shown as SEQ. ID. NO:2. A full-length cDNA clone of 4,993 bp was constructed using a PCR fragment of 556 bp amplified from brain total RNA and a 4,507 bp fragment obtained from a brain cDNA library.

There is 95.5% and 90.5% nucleotide sequence identity of the rat α₂δ-2 CDNA coding region compared to that of the mouse and human α₂δ-2 subunits, respectively. A conceptual translation of the cDNA sequence shows that the rat α₂δ-2 amino acid sequence shares 97.9% and 95.7% identity compared to the mouse and human α₂δ-2 subunits, respectively.

It will be appreciated that polymorphic variations may be made or may exist in the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 DNA of some individuals leading to minor deviations in the DNA or amino acids sequences from those shown which do not lead to any substantial alteration in the function of the calcium channel. Such variants, including variations that lead to substitutions of amino acids having similar properties are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

An examination of the nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ. ID. NO:2 shows a Kozak consensus translation initiation sequence at the second start (AUG) codon. The encoded protein is predicted to have six N-glycosylated asparagines and a hydrophobicity profile similar to that of the rat α₂δ-1 subunit. There are 15 conserved cysteine residues in the rat α₂δ-2 protein, which correspond to those in the other mammalian α₂δ-2 proteins.

The α₂δ-2 subunit of SEQ. ID. NO:3 is 98.5% identical to the rat atrial α₂δ-2 subunit previously described (Accession Number AF486277, SEQ. ID. NO:1). See FIG. 1 for comparative alignment of these sequences. There are several single point amino acid differences between the brain and atrial subunits. The atrial α₂δ-2 also contains an eight amino acid insert of LPISKLKD (SEQ. ID. NO:7) at residues 665-672, suggesting that the brain and atrial subunits are splice variants. The α₂δ-2 subunits expressed in human and mouse brain also lack this insert.

The amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:11 is an α₂δ-2 calcium channel variant which is present in rat brain. Without being bound by theory, this α₂δ-2 subunit appears to be a splice variant of the α₂δ-2 subunit of SEQ ID NO:3. The rat α₂δ-2 variant nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) contains an insertion of 21 bases in comparison to the α₂δ-2 subunit nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO:2. The insertion is found at nucleotides 1,994 to 2,014 in SEQ ID NO:10 (see nucleotides underlined and in bold in SEQ ID NO:10 sequence below).

The variant brain α₂δ-2 subunit contains an insertion of eight amino acids, LIPSKLKD (SEQ ID NO:7) at residues 665-672 in comparison to the α₂δ-2 subunit SEQ ID NO:3 (see amino acids underlined and in bold in SEQ ID NO:11 sequence below). This rat brain α₂δ-2 subunit variant protein sequence is 99.2% identical to the rat atrial α₂δ-2 subunit previously described (AF486277, SEQ ID NO:1).

This eight amino acid insertion is also found in the rat atrial α₂δ-2 subunit (see SEQ ID NO:1). The variant brain α₂δ-2 subunit is also expressed in human and mouse brain.

The amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ. ID. NO:6 is an α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunit which is present in rat brain. SEQ. ID. NO:6 is 1,091 amino acids in length and has a molecular weight of 123 kDa. It is encoded by a nucleotide sequence containing 3,273 bp which is contained in the 3,598 bp sequence shown in SEQ. ID. NO:5. A full-length cDNA clone of 3,598 bp was constructed using a PCR fragment of 1,618 bp amplified from rat brain total RNA and a 1,981 bp fragment isolated from a rat brain cDNA library.

An examination of the encoded protein in SEQ. ID. NO:6 shows a signal peptide cleavage site between residues 33 and 34, VRS-EQ. There are also four highly predictable N-glycosylation sites and 19 conserved cysteine residues between the rat, mouse and human protein sequences.

The rat brain α₂δ-3 DNA sequence has 86.5% and 95.9% identity to the human and mouse α₂δ-3 sequences, respectively. A conceptual translation of the cDNA sequence shows that the rat α₂δ-3 amino acid sequence shares 89.5% and 99.2% identity compared to the human and mouse, respectively.

The rat brain α₂δ-3 subunit cDNA sequence of SEQ. ID. NO:5 and protein sequence of SEQ. ID. NO:6 is 91.0% and 99.4%, respectively, identical to that of the rat atrial α₂δ-3 subunit previously described (AF486278, SEQ. ID. NO:4). See FIG. 2 for alignment of these sequences. The human α₂δ-3 subunit is 997 amino acids while the rat brain α₂δ-3 sequence (SEQ. ID. NO:6) is 1, 91 amino acids. The longer 5′ region in the rat accounts for the 94 amino acid difference between human and rat.

The amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ. ID. NO:9 is an α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunit variant which is present in rat brain. Without being bound by theory, this α₂δ-3 subunit appears to be a splice variant of the full-length α₂δ-3 subunit. This variant α₂δ-3 sequence contains a 142 amino acid deletion of amino acid residues 817-958 in comparison to the full-length α₂δ-3 amino acid sequence (SEQ. ID. NO:6). This rat brain α₂δ-3 subunit variant protein sequence is 86% identical to the rat atrial α₂δ-3 subunit previously described (AF486278, SEQ. ID. NO:4). See FIG. 3 for comparison.

Both the full-length and variant brain α₂δ-3 subunits contain an insertion of six amino acids, LPQAQK (SEQ ID NO:22), in comparison to the atrial α₂δ-3 subunit. Both human and mouse subunits contain the identical six residue sequence found in rat brain α₂δ-3. The full-length brain α₂δ-3 subunit also contains a single residue change in comparison to the atrial α₂δ-3 subunit.

When the α₂δ protein is displayed on cells in the presence of or coexpressed with the α₁ subunit of any calcium ion channel and optionally as well, a β subunit, the resulting cells are useful in identifying compounds that modulate the activity of the channel. The nature of the channel is effectively determined by the nature of the α₁ subunit but, in all cases, the α₂β subunit enhances current flux so that a more accurate measurement can be made. A malfunction of calcium ion channels is associated with a number of conditions; depending on the nature of the channel. For example, defects in calcium channels are associated with conditions including, but not limited to: epilepsy, migraine, ataxia, schizophrenia, hypertension, arrhythmia, angina, depression, small lung carcinoma, Lambert-Eaton syndrome.

Compounds identified that agonize or antagonize the various calcium ion channels are thus suitable drug candidates for treatment of these conditions. It is understood that not all agonists and antagonists thus identified will ultimately become successful drugs; however, the identification of a subpopulation of the millions of molecules that would otherwise be candidates represents a giant step toward development of a suitable drug.

While the required display of the calcium ion channels which include the α₂δ subunits of the invention may be effected in a variety of animal cells, exemplary cells include Xenopus oocytes or mammalian cells such as human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells as described in PCT Publication No. WO 96/39512, incorporated herein by reference, and Ltk cells as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,025, incorporated herein by reference. Transfection into host cells is accomplished by, for example, microinjection, lipofection, electroporation, calcium phosphate (glycerol shock) or particle-mediated gene transfer.

Mammalian cell lines stably expressing rat brain α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 calcium channels are, for example, prepared by transfecting an expression vector containing the α₂δ-2 calcium channel cDNA or the α₂δ-3 calcium channel cDNA into mammalian cells, such as HEK 293 cells, and selecting for cells containing the expression vector, for example, by selecting for the antibiotic resistance encoded by the expression vector, for example, pBK-RSV or pcDNA with a selectable marker (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.). The vectors are transfected into HEK 293 cells by calcium phosphate coprecipitation or lipofection or electroporation or any other method according to well known procedures (Methods in Enzymology, Volume 185, “Gene Expression Technology” (1990) Edited by Goeddel, D. V.). The rat brain α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunit cDNA expression vector may be transfected alone, or in combination with other rat, human or other mammalian or other animal calcium channel subunit cDNA's, such as the α_(1B) and β_(1b) subunit cDNA's, either in a similar expression vector or other type of vector using different selectable markers. Transfected cells are typically incubated for 4-16 hours under transfection conditions at 37° C., 5% CO₂, then placed in nonselective medium for an additional 24 hours. The cells are trypsinized and plated at low density in selective medium containing, for example, Geneticin (G418) between 600 to 800 μg/ml or Zeocin between 25-200 μg/ml, depending upon the particular vector. After 10-16 days in selective medium, cells that are resistant to G418 or zeocin grow as visible colonies and isolated colonies are harvested by the pipet technique or using standard cloning rings. Isolated cell colonies are then expanded to make frozen stocks of cells and to determine the level of rat α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 subunit expression. Southern blotting can be used to detect the integration of the subunit nucleotide sequence into the cell genome, the presence of the plasmid episomally, and the number of copies present. Rat α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 expression levels for the cell lines are determined using standard gene expression methods such as Northern blotting, RNase protection, reverse-transcriptase PCR, and Western blotting.

The functional detection of calcium channels containing the rat α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 subunit of the invention in stably transfected cells can be examined electrophysiologically, such as by whole cell patch clamp or single channel analysis, as described herein, for example. Other means of detecting functional calcium channels include the use of radiolabeled ⁴⁵Ca uptake, or fluorescence spectroscopy using calcium sensitive dyes, such as FURA-2.

The resulting cell lines expressing functional calcium channels comprising the α₂δ subunit of the invention and at least an α₁ subunit can then be used as test compounds for pharmacological activity with respect to these calcium channels as set forth above.

Compounds to be tested as agonists or antagonists of the calcium channels are combined with cells that are stably or transiently transformed with a cDNA sequence encoding the rat α₂δ-2 or the α₂δ-3 subunit of the invention with α₁ and, optionally, β subunits and monitored for pharmacological activity, if any, with respect to these calcium channels. Thus, the cell lines are useful for screening compounds for pharmaceutical utility.

Such screening can be carried out using several available methods for evaluation of the interaction, if any, between the test compound and the calcium channel. One such method involves the binding of radiolabeled agents that interact with the calcium channel and subsequent analysis of equilibrium binding measurements including, but not limited to, on rates, off rates, Kd values and competitive binding by other molecules. Another method involves screening for the effects of compounds by electrophysiological assay whereby individual cells are impaled with a microelectrode and currents through the calcium channel are recorded before and after application of the compound of interest. Another method, high-throughput spectro-photometric assay, utilizes loading the cell lines with a fluorescent dye sensitive to intracellular calcium concentration and subsequent examination of the effects of compounds on the ability of depolarization by potassium chloride or other means to alter intracellular calcium levels.

Compounds that are found to modulate the calcium ion channels, wherein the rat α₂δ-2 or the α₂δ-3 subunit of the invention is used to enhance the signal, and thereby increase the accuracy and reproducibility of results, are useful in treating conditions associated with defects in performance of these channels. The nature of these conditions depends on the type of calcium ion channel involved; but since the α₂δ subunit of the invention enhances the signal for all types of calcium ion channels, it is useful in detecting compounds for a wide variety of conditions. Defects in calcium channels are associated with conditions including, but not limited to: epilepsy, migraine, ataxia, schizophrenia, hypertension, arrhythmia, angina, depression, small lung carcinoma, Lambert-Eaton syndrome.

Detection of Calcium Ion Channel Expression

Expression of the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits of the invention, and of calcium ion channels that contain the α₂δ subunits of the invention, can be detected at the mRNA or protein level. Accordingly, in some embodiments, methods of the invention involve assaying biological samples for the presence, absence and/or level of the α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 subunit probe target of the invention, such as rat brain α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 subunit RNA and/or rat brain α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 subunit polypeptide.

It will be readily apparent upon reading of the present specification that the expression detection assays can be conducted as, or modified to be conducted as, in vitro or in vivo assays, and may be either cell-free (e.g., in vitro binding assays using polynucleotides isolated from or produced from nucleic acid of a biological sample) or cell-based (e.g., screening of whole cells for expressing the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits of the invention). In general, all assays are conducted under conditions, and for a period of time, sufficient to allow for specific binding of a rat brain α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 subunit-specific probe (e.g., nucleic acid probe, antibody probe) to a rat brain α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3 subunit probe target, e.g., to provide for detection of rat brain α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3 subunit probe target at a detectable level above background. The assays can include various positive and/or negative controls, the nature of which will be readily apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan upon reading the present specification.

Any suitable qualitative or quantitative methods known in the art for detecting specific α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 mRNA's can be used to detect or quantitate expression of the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 MRNA of the invention. For example, rat brain α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 mRNA in cells can be measured by various techniques known in the art including, but not limited to, S1 nuclease analysis, ribonuclease protection assay, primer extension assay, RNA blot analysis (e.g., northern and/or slot blot hybridization) and amplification techniques including reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). In addition, expression can be assessed in histological assays, for example the α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3 RNA of the invention can be detected by in situ hybridization in tissue sections, using methods that detect single base pair differences between hybridizing nucleic acid and other methods well known in the art.

Typically northern blot of total mRNA or fractionated RNA or RT-PCR are employed. The northern blot or RT-PCR product is probed under conditions of high stringency with a fragment of SEQ. ID. NO:2, 5, 8 or 10, or the complement thereof, whichever is appropriate. Typically, the probes contain at least 12 consecutive nucleotides derived from SEQ. ID. NO:2, 5, 8 or 10, or the complement thereof. Conditions of high stringency are defined as wash conditions of 1×SSC, 0.1 SDS, and 60° C. When mRNA encoding the α₂δ subunits of the invention is present, its presence and amount can thus be detected.

To differentially detect the rat brain α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 mRNA's of the invention from their rat atrial counterparts (and likely other α₂δ mRNA's), probes containing nucleotide sequences which encode the polypeptide regions which differ between the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 proteins of the invention and those known in the art may be used. For example, to specifically detect rat brain α₂δ-2 mRNA from rat atrial α₂δ-2 mRNA, a probe can be used which contains the nucleotide sequence that flanks and includes base pairs 2,015-2,021 of SEQ ID NO:2, for example, a probe containing base pairs 2,011-2,023 of SEQ. ID. NO:2. To specifically detect rat brain α₂δ-2 variant mRNA from rat brain α₂δ-2 mRNA for SEQ ID NO:3 and from rat atrial α₂δ-2 mRNA, a probe can be used which contains the nucleotide sequence that flanks and includes base pairs 1,994 to 2,014 of SEQ ID NO:10 in conjunction a second probe which detects the sequence differences between brain and atrial α₂δ-2, as indicated, for example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B. To specifically detect rat brain α₂δ-3 mRNA from rat atrial α₂δ-3 mRNA, a probe can be used which contains the nucleotide sequence that flanks and includes base pairs 1,381 to 1,398 of SEQ ID NO:5. To differentiate between rat brain α₂δ-3 full-length mRNA and α₂δ-3 variant mRNA, a probe can be used which contains portions of the nucleotide sequence contained only in the α₂δ-3 full-length mRNA SEQ. ID. NO:5 and not is SEQ. ID. NO:8, for example, nucleotide sequences between about base pair 2,449 and about base pair 2,874 of SEQ. ID. NO:5. Alternatively, a probe to specifically detect the α₂δ-3 variant mRNA from the α₂δ-3 full-length mRNA can be generated to include nucleotide sequence that flanks and includes base pairs 2,448 and 2,449 of SEQ. ID. NO:9, for example, nucleotide sequences from about base pair 2,442 to about 2,455 of SEQ ID NO:9. The mRNA's of the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits of the invention can also be distinguished from each other by length.

Nucleic acid probes can be prepared using routine methods, including automated oligonucleotide synthetic methods. For use of such probes, the biological sample to be analyzed may be treated, if desired, to extract the RNA contained therein. The resulting RNA from the sample may be subjected to gel electrophoresis or other size separation techniques; alternatively, the RNA sample may be dot blotted without size separation. The probes are usually labeled with a detectable label. Suitable labels, and methods for labeling probes are known in the art, and include, for example, radioactive labels incorporated by nick translation or kinasing, biotin, fluorescent probes, and chemiluminescent probes. The RNA extracted from the sample is then treated with the labeled probe under hybridization conditions of suitable stringencies.

In addition to detecting mRNA production, the probes of the invention, as described above, can be used to recover nucleotide sequences encoding α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits from other animals. The probes may be used with respect to cDNA libraries or genomic libraries derived from other species, and are tested for hybridization under the high stringency conditions described above.

In one embodiment, the invention features methods for detecting expression of rat brain α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3 subunits through detection of the α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3 polypeptides in a biological sample. Polypeptide-based detection can be accomplished by use of an antibody (including antigen-binding antibody fragments) or a receptor (including ligand-binding receptor fragments) that specifically binds the target α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3 polypeptides (e.g., an anti-rat brain α₂δ-2 polypeptide antibody and anti-rat brain α₂δ-3 polypeptide antibody). For example, the presence of target α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3 polypeptides in a sample can be determined using a target α₂δ-2 and/or α₂δ-3-specific probe using various techniques known in the art including, but not limited to, quantitative immunoassays, such as, radioimmunoassay, immunofluorescent assay, enzyme immunoassay, chemiluminescent assay, ELISA, western blot assay, immunocytochemistry assay or immunohistochemistry assay.

For detection at the protein level, it is convenient to produce antibodies to α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 proteins of the invention. The antibodies are immunospecific to these proteins if they immunoreact detectably more strongly to the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 subunits of the invention as compared to other proteins, including α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 proteins of the prior art. The antibodies may be polyclonal, monoclonal, single-chain recombinant, and the like. Methods for preparation of such antibodies, including antibodies designed to be compatible with individual species such as humanized antibodies are well known. It is also understood that the term “antibodies” includes immunospecific fragments thereof, such as F_(ab), F_(ab′), and the like. As mentioned above, single-chain F_(v) antibodies also represent useful fragments. The rat brain α₂δ-2, α₂δ-3 full length and α₂δ-3 variant proteins can also be distinguished from each other by differences in molecular weight.

To differentially detect the rat brain α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 proteins of the invention from their rat atrial counterparts (and likely other α₂δ proteins), antibodies specific to the polypeptide regions in which the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 proteins of the invention differ from those known in the art can be produced. For example, to specifically detect rat brain α₂δ-2 protein, an antibody can be produced to the polypeptide region that flanks and includes amino acids 664-666, such as a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence from about 660 to about 670 of SEQ. ID. NO:3. To specifically detect rat brain α₂δ-3 protein from rat atrial α₂δ-3 protein, an antibody can be produced to the polypeptide region that flanks and includes amino acids 461 to 466, such as a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence from about 457 to about 470 of SEQ. ID. NO:6.

To differentiate between rat brain α₂δ-3 full-length protein (SEQ. ID. NO:6) and the α₂δ-3 variant (SEQ. ID. NO:9), antibodies can be produced directed to a portion of the full-length protein missing from the variant, for example from about amino acid 817 to about amino acid 958 of SEQ. ID. NO:6. Such an antibody would likely also distinguish between the rat atrial α₂δ-3 full-length protein (SEQ. ID. NO:4) and the rat brain α₂δ-3 variant (SEQ. ID. NO:9). In addition, or alternatively, to specifically detect the rat brain α₂δ-3 variant (SEQ. ID. NO:9), antibodies can be generated directed to a polypeptide spanning the portion missing relative to the full-length protein. For example, an antibody specific for a polypeptide that includes amino acids flanking amino acids 816 and 817 of SEQ. ID. NO:9, such as a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence from about 810 to about 824 of SEQ. ID. NO:9, would allow specific detection of the α₂δ-3 variant polypeptide.

A combination of antibodies may also be used to identify and/or quantitate the α₂δ-3 variant from the full length α₂δ-3 polypeptide. In such a case, one antibody which recognizes the shared portion of the two polypeptides, i.e., a section of the N-terminal portion from amino acid 1 to about amino acid 817, and the other antibody which recognizes the portion of the full-length protein missing from the variant, for example from about amino acid 817 to about amino acid 958 of SEQ. ID. NO:6, can be used. Detection of differences in binding of the two antibodies could be used to distinguish rat brain α₂δ-3 full length from rat brain α₂δ-3 variant.

These antibodies can be used to detect the production of any calcium channel which includes the α₂δ calcium ion channels on histological sections or tissue extracts. Expression and display on recombinant cells can also be detected using these antibodies. Standard methods for labeling and detecting the antibody complexes are employed.

Complexes formed comprising the α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 polypeptides of the invention and the anti-α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 subunit antibody are detected by any of a number of known techniques, depending on the format. The antibody in the immunoassays for detection of the α₂δ-2 and α₂δ-3 polypeptides of the invention may be provided on a support (e.g., solid or semi-solid); alternatively, the polypeptides in the sample can be immobilized on a support. Examples of supports that can be used are nitrocellulose (e.g., in membrane or microtiter well form), polyvinyl chloride (e.g., in sheets or microtiter wells), polystyrene latex (e.g., in beads or microtiter plates), polyvinylidene fluoride, diazotized paper, nylon membranes, activated beads, and Protein A beads. Bead-based supports are generally more useful for immobilization of the antibody in the assay.

In one embodiment, the biological sample contains cells (i.e., whole cells) and detection is by reacting the sample with labeled antibodies, performed in accordance with conventional methods. In general, antibodies that specifically bind a α₂δ-2 or α₂δ-3 polypeptide of the invention are added to a sample, and incubated for a period of time sufficient to allow binding to the epitope, usually at least about 10 minutes. The antibody can be detectably labeled for direct detection (e.g., using radioisotopes, enzymes, fluorescers, chemiluminescers, and the like), or can be used in conjunction with a second stage antibody or reagent to detect binding (e.g., with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated avidin, a secondary antibody conjugated to a fluorescent compound, e.g., fluorescein, rhodamine, Texas red, and others). The absence or presence of antibody binding can be determined by various methods, including, but not limited to, flow cytometry of dissociated cells, microscopy, radiography, and scintillation counting. Any suitable alternative methods of qualitative or quantitative detection of levels or amounts of differentially expressed polypeptide can be used, for example ELISA, Western blot, immunoprecipitation, radioimmunoassay, and the like.

The following examples are offered to illustrate but not to limit the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Novel α₂δ-2 subunits of the invention were identified using RT-PCR of rat brain total RNA and screening of a rat brain cDNA library. Screening of the cDNA library followed standard methods and included infecting bacteria with recombinant lambda phage and immobilizing lambda DNA on to nylon filters (Hybond-N, Amersham Pharmacia biotech).

A rat α₂δ-2 cDNA probe of 313 bp (1,368-1,680) was amplified from rat brain total RNA using One-Step RT-PCR (Superscript, Invitrogen) with primers designed to conserved regions of the mouse and human α₂δ-2 genes as follows: F1368, 5′-AGCCATCCGCATCAACACACAG-3′; (SEQ ID NO:12) R1680, 5′-AGCAACACGTAGCCGTTCAGGTC-3′. (SEQ ID NO:13)

The resulting probe was radiolabeled with [α⁼P] dCTP using the Multi-Prime DNA labeling System (Amersham) and the free α³²P removed using a Centri Spin-20 column (Princeton Separations). Approximately 300,000 plaque forming units (pfus) were screened with the radiolabeled probe using moderate hybridization (55° C.) in Church and Gilbert's solution and moderate to high wash conditions (55° C., 0.2×SSC/0.1% SDS). Bacteriophage that hybridized to the rat α₂δ-2 radiolabeled probe were detected by exposing the membranes to autoradioraphy. Positive clones were purified by sequential rounds of screening and the phagemid cDNA (pBluescript SK+) isolated by in vivo excision using the ExAssist helper phage with SOLR Strain E. coli according to the manufacturer's instructions (Stratagene).

Ten positive clones were sequenced and found to contain cDNA fragments of the rat α₂δ-2 subunit (4.0 Kb>). Two clones were completely sequenced of which one clone, rat library clone 11-1-2, contained a sequence of 4,507 base pairs (bp). This clone was missing 487 bp of the 5′ open reading frame (ORF). In order to obtain the 5′ end of the rat α₂δ-2 cDNA, antisene primers were made to the rat α₂δ-2 sequence and sense primers were designed to consensus sequence of the human and mouse subunits.

Primer 591R: 5′-GCTCCTCGATGAAGTCCAGCCTTA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:14), was used in the reverse transcriptase (RT) reaction of rat brain total RNA (60° C., 90 min). A 561 bp 5′ fragment of the rat α₂δ-2 mRNA, including 24 base pairs of the 5′ untranslated sequence, was amplified using PCR from the RT reaction using Hot Star Taq plus Q-solution (Qiagen) with a sense primer designed to the human and mouse 5′ UTR sequence: F-24: 5′-CGGCGCCGCATCTTGAATGGAAAC-3′, (SEQ ID NO:15) and an antisense primer to the rat α₂δ-2 library clone.

The α₂δ-2 PCR fragment was subsequently inserted into pGEM-T (Promega). In order to make a full-length rat α₂δ-2 cDNA, subunit primers were designed with the restriction enzymes sites, Hind III (F-5: 5′-GCGAAGCTTGAAACATGGCGGTGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:16)), which removes the first AUG, and BamH I (557R: 5′-TGGATCCCCTCTCCATATCCTCACTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:17)).

The PCR was done using Pfu (Stratagene) and the cDNA products were cloned into pGEM-T. The full-length rat α₂δ-2 sequence was constructed in the mammalian expression vector pBK-RSV (-lac p) using a three way ligation of the Hind III/BamH I 5′ PCR fragment and the BamH I/Xba 1 region of the rat library clone 11-1-2.

The full-length rat brain α₂δ-2 cDNA clone has the nucleic acid SEQ. ID. NO:2: Full length rat brain α₂δ-2 calcium channel subunit nucleotide sequence (SEQ. ID. NO:2) 1 CGGCGCCGCA TCTTGAATGG AAAC ATG GCG GTGCCGGCTC GGACCTGCGG CGCTTCTTGG 61 CCCGGCCCGG TGCGGACCGC TCGCCCCTGG CCCGGTCGCG GTCCCCGGCC CTGCCCTGAC 121 CCCCGGGGCC CAGCGTCCGG GCCCGCACGC CCGCTCTTGC TACTGCTGCC GCCTCTGCTG 181 CTTTTACCGC TGCTCACCGC CCCCGGCGCC TCTGCCTACA GCTTCCCCCA GCAGCACACG 241 ATGCAGCACT GGGCCCGGCG CCTGGAGCAG GAGATTGACG GTGTGATGCG GATTTTTGGA 301 GGCGTGCAGC AGCTCCGAGA GATCTACAAG GACAATCGGA ACCTGTTTGA TGTGCAGGAG 361 AATGAACCAC AGAAACTAGT GGAGAAGGTG GCAGGGGACA TTGAGAGCCT GCTGGACAGA 421 AAGGTCCAGG CCTTGAAGAG ACTGGCTGAC GCTGCAGAGA ATTTCCAGAA AGCCCACCGC 481 TGGCAAGACA ACATCAAGGA GGAAGACATC ATGTACTATG ACGCCAAGGC TGACGCCGAG 541 CTGGATGATC CTGAGAGTGA GGATATGGAG AGGGGATCCA AGACCAGCGC CTTAAGGCTG 601 GACTTCATCG AGGAGCCAAA CTTCAAGAAC AAAGTCAACT ATTCATACAC GGCGGTGCAG 661 ATCCCCACAG ATATCTACAA AGGCTCTACC GTCATCCTCA ATGAGCTTAA CTGGACGGAG 721 GCCCTGGAGA ATGTCTTCAT TGAGAACCGT AGGCAAGACC CTACACTGTT GTGGCAAGTC 781 TTCGGCAGTG CCACGGGAGT CACCCGCTAT TACCCAGCCA CACCGTGGCG AGCCCCCAAG 841 AAGATTGACC TGTACGATGT CAGAAGACGA CCCTGGTATA TACAGGGGGC CTCATCACCC 901 AAGGACATGG TCATCATTGT GGATGTGAGT GGCAGTGTGA GCGGCCTGAC GCTGAAGCTG 961 ATGAAGACGT CTGTCTGTGA GATGCTAGAC ACACTCTCCG ATGATGACTA TGTGAATGTG 1021 GCCTCATTCA ACGAGAAGGC GCAGCCTGTG TCTTGCTTCA CACAGCTGGT GCAGGCCAAT 1081 GTGCGGAACA AGAAGGTGTT CAAGGAAGCT GTGCAGGGCA TGGTGGCCAA GGGCACCACA 1141 GGCTACAAGG CTGGCTTTGA GTATGCCTTT GACCAGCTAC AGAATTCCAA CATCACCGGT 1201 GCTAACTGCA ATAAGATGAT GATGATGTTC ACGGACGGGG GAGAGGATCG CGTGCAGGAC 1261 GTCTTTGAAA AGTATAATTG GCCCAATCGG ACGGTACGCG TGTTCACGTT CTCCGTAGGA 1321 GAGCATAACT ATGATGTCAC ACCCCTGCAG TGGATGGCTT GTACTAACAA AGGTTACTAT 1381 TTTGAGATCC CTTCCATCGG AGCCATCCGC ATCAACAGAC AGGAATACGT GGATGTGCTG 1441 GGTAGGCCCA TGGTCCTGGC AGGCAAGGAC GCCAAGCAAG TGCAATGGAC AAACGTGTAT 1501 GAAGATGCGC TGGGGCTGGG GTTGGTGGTA ACAGGGACTC TCCCTGTTTT CAACCTGACA 1561 CAGGATGGCC CTGGGGAAAA GAAGAACGAG CTAATCCTGG GTGTCATGGG CATAGATGTG 1621 GCCCTGAATG ACATCAAAAG GCTGACTCCC AACTACACAC TTGGCGCCAA TGGCTACGTG 1681 TTCGCCATCG ACCTGAATGG CTATGTGTTG CTACATCCCA ATCTCAAGCC CCAGACTACC 1741 AACTTCCGGG AGCCTGTGAC CTTGGACTTC CTGGATGCAG AGCTGGAAGA TGAGAACAAG 1801 GAGGAGATCC GTCGTAGTAT GATTGACGAA GACAAAGGCG ACAAGCAGAT CAGAACCTTG 1861 GTCAAATCCC TGGATGAGAG GTACATAGAT GAAGTGATTC GGAACTACAC CTGGGTGCCT 1921 ATAAGGAGTA CCAACTACAG CCTGGGGCTG GTGCTCCCAC CCTACAGCAC CTACTACCTC 1981 CAAGCCAACC TCAGCGACCA GATCCTGCAG GTCAAGTATT TTGAGTTCCT GCTCCCCAGC 2041 AGCTTTGAGT CTGAAGGACA TGTTTTCATT GCTCCCAGAG AGTATTGCAA GGATTTGAAT 2101 GCCTCAGACA ACAACACCGA GTTCCTGAAA AACTTCATTG AGCTGATGGA GAAAGTGACT 2161 CCGGACTCCA AGCAGTGCAA TAACTTCCTT CTGCATAACT TGATTTTGGA CACGGGCATT 2221 ACGCAGCAGT TAGTGGAACG CGTCTGGCGG GACCAAGATC TCAACACGTA CAGCCTGCTA 2281 GCTGTATTTG CTGCCACTGA CGGTGCAGTC ACACGTGTCT TCCCGAACAA GGCAGCTGAA 2341 GACTGGACAG AAAACCCTGA ACCCTTCAAT GCCAGCTTCT ACCGCCGCAG CCTGGATAAC 2401 CGTGGTTATA TCTTCAAGCC CCCGCACCAG GACTCCCTGT TAAGGCCACT GGAGCTGGAG 2461 AATGACACAG TAGGCGTCCT CGTCAGCACA GCTGTAGAGC TCAGTCTGGG TCGCCGCACA 2521 CTGAGGCCAG CAGTGGTGGG TGTCAAACTG GACCTAGAGG CTTGGGCTGA AAAGTTCAAG 2581 GTGCTTGCCA GCAACCGTAC CCATCAGGAC CAACCTCAGA AGCAGTGCGG CCCCAGCAGC 2641 CACTGTGAGA TGGACTGCGA GGTAAACAAC GAGGACCTAC TCTGTGTCCT CATTGATGAC 2701 GGGGGATTCC TGGTGCTGTC AAACCAGAAC CACCAGTGGG ACCAGGTTGG CAGATTCTTC 2761 AGTGAGGTGG ATGCCAACCT GATGCTGGCA CTGTACAATA ACTCCTTCTA CACCAGAAAG 2821 GAGTCCTATG ACTATCAGGC AGCTTGTGCC CCTCAGCCTC CTGGCAACCT GGGTGCTGCA 2881 CCCAGGGGTG TCTTTGTGCC CACCATTGCA GATTTCCTTA ACTTGGCCTG GTGGACCTCT 2941 GCTGCCGCCT GGTCCTTATT CCAGCAACTA CTTTATGGTC TCATCTATCA CAGCTGGTTC 3001 CAGGCAGACC CGGCAGAAGC CGAGGGCAGC CCCGAGACGC GCGAGAGCAG CTGCGTCATG 3061 AAACAAACCC AGTACTACTT CGGCTCGGTG AACGCGTCCT ATAACGCCAT CATCGACTGC 3121 GGAAACTGCA GCAGGCTGTT CCACGCGCAG AGACTGACCA ACACCAACCT TCTGTTCGTG 3181 GTGGCGGAGA AGCCGCTGTG CAGCCAGTGC GAGGTCGGCC GGCTGCTACA AAAGGAGACA 3241 CACTGCCCAG CGGACGGCCC GGAGCAGTGT GAGCTGGTGC AGAGACCGCG ATACCGAAGA 3301 GGCCCGCACA TCTGTTTTGA CTACAATGCG ACGGAAGATA CCTCAGACTG TGGCCGCGGC 3361 ACGTCCTTCC CTCCGTCGCT GGGCGTCTTG GTTTCCCTGC AGCTGTTGCT CCTCCTAGGC 3421 CTGCCACCTC GGCCGCAGCC TCAAATCCAT TCCTTCGCTG CCTCTCGCCG CCTC TGA ACT 3481 ACCCACACAC ACACATCATA GCCCCCACCC CCACCCCGCC TTGGCCTCCT AGCCTTTTCG 3541 CTCACCCTCC CATGCCACAT TCCCCAATCT AGATCCTTGG CCAGTCTCTC CTGAAGGAAC 3601 TGGGCCCCTT CCCCGGAGCC TGTGCCTTGG GGCAGGGGAG CCAAAGTAAG GTGCCATGGT 3661 GTTTGGCACT CAAGATTTAT CTCACCCTTG AACTGTCCAA GTGCCCACAG TCCCTGGACT 3721 CACCCCTGTG GTTGGGACAG GAGGCCACTA GTACCGATGC CAAACCAGGC CTCCACCAAC 3781 CCACCTGCCT GGAGATTTTC TCTATGTAGG CAACCCTGCC ACTGCTGGGC GCCTCTAACT 3841 GGCCCTTTGC CCCACCCAGG CCCAAACTTA CCTTCTCTGG GGAAAAAACT AGGAGAGATG 3901 GNTAGTGGTG AGAGAGATTC TGGGGGCACC CCTTCCCCAT AGCCTCGGGC CGTTCCAGGC 3961 TACACCACAA ACCCACACCT CGGCTTGCAG GTATCAGGAC AGCCTCACGA TGACATCAGC 4021 TTAGGCACAC CCCACAGACA CCTGGACCTC AGAGAGCAGA AACTGGACTC TCACTAGACA 4081 TGCCCGAGAG GGAACACACA AACAGACACA CACCATGGGG GACCCACAAA GCCTTACACA 4141 GGGCGAGAGG TCAGTGAAGG GGCTGACCTG TGTGTTCCTT CTCCGCTCAC CTCTGCCTCC 4201 ACTCTGAGAT GCAGCCTGGC AGGCCCTCCC ATCTCTAGAA CTGAATGTCA GACCGTGCCA 4261 AATGCTAGGG GAAGGCCTCT GTTTCGCCCC TAGCCACCAG TGTCCCCAAA TGCCCCTCAC 4321 CCTGCCAGGT GCTCATTGTA ACCATTGCTC ACTAGTGTCA GGCCCCTAGT AGGACCACAT 4381 GTCACTGCCT GAACCCCTTT GGCAGAAGAA CCCCGCCAGA CATTGTACTT TGCCTTAGCA 4441 GGGGTGACTT GGTCTCTCCT GGCTGGGCCA TCCCATCCCC AATCTGGTTC TTACATACTC 4501 AGGCCTAATT CCCTCTTCAC AGACACACAC ACACACACAC ACACACACAC ACACACACAG 4561 TCCCTGCCCC TAGGAGGCCA TATTGCCCCT CCCTTGCTGA ACAGACACTT GCACCAAGCA 4621 CATGTGTAGT CAACGATACT GCACACACAG AGGCTGGGCC TGGGACACAT CTCTTCAGAC 4681 CATTCATTCT GTCATTTCTC CCAAAGGCAT CGTAACCTGG GGGGCAGGCG GGGACTGAGG 4741 GCAGGGTGGG GGGGTGTGTG GCCATGAGGC TCAGATGGAC TGGGAGGAGG GTGGGAGGGT 4801 GGTAGATTAA TTAATGGCTC CGTTAATTAA TGTCATGTTG CGTGTTGCTT TCTCAGTGTG 4861 TGTATGGTCC ATGCCCAATG CTGGTGGCAG GGTGGGTGTG CATGATGTGT GCCGAGCCTG 4921 GATGTCAGCT GTGTCCTGTG GGGGCGTGTG TGTAACTGTA GTGTAGTCAG GTGCTCAACG 4981 GAGAATACAA ACG and the deduced amino acid sequence of rat brain α2δ-2 cDNA is SEQ. ID. NO:3.

Translated rat brain α₂δ-2 amino acid sequence (SEQ. ID. NO:3): 1 MAVPARTCGA SWPGPVRTAR PWPGRGPRPC PDPRGPASGP ARPLLLLLPP 51 LLLLPLLTAP GASAYSFPQQ HTMQHWARRL EQEIDGVMRI FGGVQQLREI 101 YKDNRNLFDV QENEPGKLVE KVAGDIESLL DRKVQALKRL ADAAENFQKA 151 HRWQDNIKEE DIMYYDAKAD AELDDPESED MERGSKTSAL RLDFIEEPNF 201 KNKVNYSYTA VQIPTDIYKG STVILNELNW TEALENVFIE NRRQDPTLLW 251 QVFGSATGVT RYYPATPWRA PKKIDLYDVR RRPWYIQGAS SPKDMVIIVD 301 VSGSVSGLTL KLMKTSVCEM LDTLSDDDYV NVASFNEKAQ PVSCFTHLVQ 351 ANVRNKKVFK EAVQGMVAKG TGGYKAGFEY AFDQLQNSNI TRANCNKMIM 401 MFTDGGEDRV QDVFEKYNWP NRTVRVFTFS VGQHNYDVTP LQWMACTNKG 451 YYFEIPSIGA IRINTGEYLD VLGRPMVLAG KDAKQVQWTN VYEDALGLGL 501 VVTGTLPVFN LTQDGPGEKK NQLILGVMGI DVALNDIKRL TPNYTLGANG 551 YVFAIDLNGY VLLHPNLKPQ TTNFREPVTL DFLDAELEDE NKEEIRRSMI 601 DEDKGHKQIR TLVKSLDERY IDEVIRNYTW VPIRSTNYSL GLVLPPYSTY 651 YLQANLSDQI LQVKYFEFLL PSSFESEGHV FIAPREYCKD LNASDNNTEF 701 LKNFIELMEK VTPDSKQCNN FLLHNLILDT GITQQLVERV WRDQDLNTYS 751 LLAVFAATDG AVTRVFPNKA AEDWTENPEP FNASFYRRSL DNRGYIFKPP 801 HQDSLLRPLE LENDTVGVLV STAVELSLGR RTLRPAVVGV KLDLEAWAEK 851 FKVLASNRTH QDQPQKQCGP SSHCEMDCEV NNEDLLCVLI DDGGFLVLSN 901 QNHQWDQVGR FFSEVDANLM LALYNNSFYT RKESYDYQAA CAPQPPGNLG 951 AAPRGVFVPT IADFLNLAWW TSAAAWSLFQ QLLYGLIYHS WFQADPAEAE 1001 GSPETRESSC VMKQTQYYFG SVNASYNAII DCGNCSRLFH AQRLTNTNLL 1051 FVVAEKPLCS QCEVGRLLQK ETHCPADGPE QCELVQRPRY RRGPHICFDY 1101 NATEDTSDCG RGTSFPPSLG VLVSLQLLLL LGLPPRPQPQ IHSFAASRRL 1151 *

The rat brain α₂δ-2 variant cDNA clone was also identified and has SEQ ID NO:10: Rat brain α₂δ-2 variant calcium channel subunit nucleotide sequence (SEQ. ID. NO:10) 1 ATGGCGGTGC CGGCTCGGAC CTGCGGCGCT TCTTGGCCCG GCCCGGTGCG GACCGCTCGC CCCTGGCCCG GTCGCGGTCC 81 CCGGCCCTGC CCTGACCCCC GGGGCCCAGC GTCCGGGCCC GCACGCCCGC TCTTGCTACT GCTGCCGCCT CTGCTGCTTT 161 TACCGCTGCT CACCGCCCCC GGCGCCTCTG CCTACAGCTT CCCCCAGCAG CACACGATGC AGCACTGGGC CCGGCGCCTG 241 GAGCAGGAGA TTGACGGTGT GATGCGGATT TTTGGAGGCG TGCAGCAGCT CCGAGAGATC TACAAGGACA ATCGGAACCT 321 GTTTGATGTG CAGGAGAATG AACCACAGAA ACTAGTGGAG AAGGTGGCAG GGGACATTGA GAGCCTGCTG GACAGAAAGG 401 TCCAGGCCTT GAAGAGACTG GCTGACGCTG CAGAGAATTT CCAGAAAGCC CACCGCTGGC AAGACAACAT CAAGGAGGAA 481 GAGATCATGT ACTATGACGC CAAGGCTGAC GCCGAGCTGG ATGATCCTGA GAGTGAGGAT ATGGAGAGGG GATCCAAGAC 561 CAGCGCCTTA AGGCTGGACT TCATCGAGGA GCCAAACTTC AAGAACAAAG TCAACTATTC ATACACGGCG GTGCAGATCC 641 CCACAGATAT CTACAAAGGC TCTACCGTCA TCCTCAATGA GCTTAACTGG ACGGAGGCCC TGGAGAATGT CTTCATTGAG 721 AACCGTAGGC AAGACCCTAC ACTGTTGTGG CAAGTCTTCG GCAGTGCCAC GGGAGTCACC CGCTATTACC CAGCCACACC 801 GTGGCGAGCC CCCAAGAAGA TTGACCTGTA CGATGTCAGA AGACGACCCT GGTATATACA GGGGGCCTCA TCACCCAAGG 881 ACATGGTCAT CATTGTGGAT GTGAGTGGCA GTGTGAGCGG CCTGACGCTG AAGCTGATGA AGACGTCTGT CTGTGAGATG 961 CTAGACACAC TCTCCGATGA TGACTATGTG AATGTGGCCT CATTCAACGA GAAGGCGCAG CCTGTGTCTT GCTTCACACA 1041 CCTGGTGCAG GCCAATGTGC GGAACAAGAA GGTGTTCAAG GAAGCTGTGC AGGGCATGGT GGCCAAGGGC ACCACAGGCT 1121 ACAAGGCTGG CTTTGAGTAT GCCTTTGACC AGCTACAGAA TTCCAACATC ACCCGTGCTA ACTGCAATAA GATGATCATG 1201 ATGTTCACGG ACGGGGGAGA GGATCGCGTG CAGGACGTCT TTGAAAAGTA TAATTGGCCC AATCGGACGG TACGCGTCTT 1281 CACGTTCTCC GTAGGACAGC ATAACTATGA TGTCACACCC CTGCAGTGGA TGGCTTGTAC TAACAAAGGT TACTATTTTG 1361 AGATCCCTTC CATCGGAGCC ATCCGCATCA ACACACAGGA ATACCTGGAT GTGCTGGGTA GGCCCATGGT CCTGGCAGGC 1441 AAGGACGCCA AGCAAGTGCA ATGGACAAAC GTCTATGAAG ATGCGCTGGG GCTGGGGTTG GTGGTAACAG GGACTCTCCC 1521 TGTTTTCAAC CTGACACAGG ATGGCCCTGG GGAAAAGAAG AACCAGCTAA TCCTCCGTGT CATGGGCATA GATGTGGCCC 1601 TGAATGACAT CAAAAGGCTG ACTCCCAACT ACACACTTGG CGCCAATGGC TACGTGTTCG CCATCGACCT GAATGGCTAT 1681 GTGTTGCTAC ATCCCAATCT CAAGCCCCAG ACTACCAACT TCCGGGAGCC TGTGACCTTG GACTTCCTGG ATGCAGAGCT 1761 GGAAGATGAG AACAAGGAGG AGATCCGTCG TAGTATGATT GACGAAGACA AAGGCCACAA GCAGATCAGA ACCTTGGTCA 1841 AATCCCTGGA TGAGAGGTAC ATAGATGAAG TGATTCGGAA CTACACCTGG GTGCCTATAA GGACTACCAA CTACAGCCTG 1921 GGGCTGGTGC TCCCACCCTA CAGCACCTAC TACCTCCAAG CCAACCTCAC CGACCAGATC CTGCAGGTCA AGT TGCCAAT 2001 CAGCAAACTG AAGG ATTTTG AGTTCCTGCT CCCCAGCAGC TTTGAGTCTG AAGGACATGT TTTCATTGCT CCCAGAGAGT 2081 ATTGCAAGGA TTTGAATGCC TCAGACAACA ACACCGAGTT CCTGAAAAAC TTCATTGAGC TCATGGAGAA AGTGACTCCG 2161 GACTCCAAGC AGTGCAATAA CTTCCTTCTG CATAACTTGA TTTTGGACAC GGGCATTACG CAGCAGTTAG TGGAACGCGT 2241 CTCGCGGGAC CAACATCTCA ACACGTACAG CCTGCTAGCT GTATTTGCTG CCACTGACGG TGCAGTCACA CGTGTCTTCC 2321 CGAACAAGGC AGCTGAAGAC TGGACAGAAA ACCCTGAACC CTTCAATGCC ACCTTCTACC GCCGCAGCCT GGATAACCGT 2401 GGTTATATCT TCAAGCCCCC GCACCAGGAC TCCCTGTTAA GGCCACTGGA GCTGGAGAAT GACACAGTAG GCGTCCTCGT 2481 GAGCACAGCT GTAGAGCTCA GTCTGGGTCG CCGCACACTG AGGCCAGCAG TGGTGGGTGT CAAACTGGAC CTAGAGGCTT 2561 GGGCTGAAAA GTTCAAGGTG CTTGGCAGGA ACCGTACCCA TCAGGACCAA CCTCAGAAGC AGTGCGGCCC CAGCAGCCAC 2641 TGTGAGATGG ACTGCGAGGT AAACAACGAG GACCTAGTCT GTGTCGTCAT TGATGAGGGG GGATTCCTGG TGCTGTCAAA 2721 CCAGAACCAC CAGTGGGACC AGGTTGGCAG ATTCTTCAGT GAGGTGGATG CCAACCTGAT GCTGGCACTG TACAATAACT 2801 CCTTCTACAC CAGAAAGGAG TCCTATGACT ATCAGGCAGC TTGTGCCCCT CAGCCTCCTG GCAACCTGGG TGCTGCACCC 2881 AGGGGTGTCT TTGTGCCCAC CATTGCAGAT TTCCTTAACT TGGCCTGGTG GACCTCTGCT GCCGCCTGGT CCTTATTCCA 2961 GCAACTACTT TATGGTCTCA TCTATCACAG CTGGTTCCAG GCAGACCCGG CAGAAGCCGA GGGCAGCCCC GAGACGCGCG 3041 AGAGCAGCTG CGTCATGAAA CAAACCCAGT ACTACTTCGG CTCGGTGAAC GCGTCCTATA ACGCCATCAT CGACTGCGGA 3121 AACTGCAGCA GGCTGTTCCA CGCGCAGAGA CTGACCAACA CCAACCTTCT GTTCGTGGTG GCGGAGAAGC CGCTGTGCAG 3201 CCAGTGCGAG GTCGGCCGGC TGCTACAAAA GGAGACACAC TGCCCAGCGG ACGGCCCGGA GCAGTGTGAG CTGGTGCAGA 3281 GACCGCGATA CCGAAGAGGC CCGCACATCT GTTTTGACTA CAATGCGACG GAAGATACCT CAGACTGTGG CCGCGGCACG 3361 TCCTTCCCTC CGTCGCTGGG CGTCTTGGTT TCCCTGCAGC TGTTGCTCCT CCTAGGCCTG CCACCTCGGC CGCAGCCTCA 3441 AATCCATTCC TTCGCTGCCT CTCGCCGCCT CTGA and the deduced amino acid sequence of rat brain α₂δ-2 variant is SEQ ID NO:11.

Translated rat brain α₂δ-2 variant amino acid (SEQ ID NO:11): 1 MAVPARTCGA SWPGPVRTAR PWPGRGPRPC PDPRGPASGP ARPLLLLLPP LLLLPLLTAP GASAYSFPQQ HTMQHWARRL 81 EQEIDGVMRI FGGVQQLREI YKDNRNLFDV QENEPQKLVE KVAGDIESLL DRKVQALKRL ADAAENFQKA HRWQDNIKEE 161 DIMYYDAKAD AELDDPESED MERGSKTSAL RLDFIEEPNF KNKVNYSYTA VQIPTDIYKG STVILNELNW TEALENVFIE 241 NRRQDPTLLW QVFGSATGVT RYYPATPWRA PKKIDLYDVR RRPWYIQGAS SPKDMVIIVD VSGSVSGLTL KLMKTSVCEM 321 LDTLSDDDYV NVASFNEKAQ PVSCFTHLVQ ANVRNKKVFK EAVQGMVAKG TTGYKAGFEY AFDQLQNSNI TRANCNKMIM 401 MFTDGGEDRV QDVFEKYNWP NRTVRVFTFS VGQHNYDVTP LQWMACTNKG YYFEIPSIGA IRINTQEYLD VLGRPMVLAG 481 KDAKQVQWTN VYEDALGLGL VVTGTLPVFN LTQDGPGEKK NQLILGVMGI DVALNDIKRL TPNYTLGANG YVFAIDLNGY 561 VLLHPNLKPQ TTNFREPVTL DFLDAELEDE NKEEIRRSMI DEDKGHKQIR TLVKSLDERY IDEVIRNYTW VPIRSTNYSL 641 GLVLPPYSTY YLQANLSDQI LQVK LPISKL KD FEFLLPSS FESEGHVFIA PREYCKDLNA SDNNTEFLKN FIELMEKVTP 721 DSKQCNNFLL HNLILDTGIT QQLVERVWRD QDLNTYSLLA VFAATDGAVT RVFPNKAAED WTENPEPFNA SFYRRSLDNR 801 GYIFKPPHQD SLLRPLELEN DTVGVLVSTA VELSLGRRTL RPAVVGVKLD LEAWAEKFKV LASNRTHQDQ PQKQCGPSSH 881 CEMDCEVNNE DLLCVLIDDG GFLVLSNQNH QWDQVGRFFS EVDANLMLAL YNNSFYTRKE SYDYQAACAP QPPGNLGAAP 961 RGVFVPTIAD FLNLAWWTSA AAWSLFQQLL YGLIYHSWFQ ADPAEAEGSP ETRESSCVMK QTQYYFGSVN ASYNAIIDCG 1041 NCSRLFHAQR LTNTNLLFVV AEKPLCSQCE VGRLLQKETH CPADGPEQCE LVQRPRYRRG PHICFDYNAT EDTSDCGRGT 1121 SFPPSLGVLV SLQLLLLLGL PPRPQPQIHS FAASRRL*

EXAMPLE 2 Heterologous Expression of Rat α₂δ-2 Calcium Channel Subunits in Cells

A. Transient Transfection in Mammalian Cells

Human embryonic kidney cells, HEK 293 (ATCC# CRL 1573) or HEK 293 tsA 201, were grown in standard DMEM medium supplemented with 4 mM glutamine and 10% fetal bovine serum. The rat α₂δ-2 construct was transfected into HEK 293 or HEK 293 tsA 201 cells with equimolar concentration of the subunits α_(1B) (N-type calcium channel) and β_(1b), using lipofectamine (Gibco/Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. pEGFP was included in the transfected cDNA at 3-5 times less the molar concentration to detect transfected cells and to determine the efficiency of transfection. Transfected cells were incubated at 37° C., 5% CO₂, for 6-24 hours and then placed at 29° C., 5% CO₂.

After an incubation period of 24 to 72 hours, the culture medium was removed and replaced with an external recording solution containing (in mM) 5 BaCl, 129 CsCl, 1 MgCl₂, 10 HEPES, 10 glucose, pH 7.4 with CsOH. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made with an Axopatch 200B amplifier (Axon Instruments, USA). Recording electrodes with typical resistances of 4-8 MΩ were backfilled with (in mM) 108 caesium-methansulfonate, 2 MgCl₂, 10 HEPES, 11 EGTA, 2 ATP, pH 7.2 with some CsOH. To create command potentials and acquire data, Clampex 8.2 software (Axon Instruments, USA) and a Digidata 1322A A/D converter interface (Axon Instruments, USA) were used. Currents were elicited at test potential of +20 mV (50 ms duration) from a holding potential of −80 mV. Leak and capacitance currents were subtracted on-line with a standard P/4 protocol. Evoked currents were filtered by a low-pass Bessel filter set at 1 kHz. Signals were acquired at 2.02 kHz and analyzed offline using pClamp 8.2 (Axon Instruments, USA) and Origin (OriginLab Corporation, USA) software. The effects of coexpressing the rat α₂δ-2 auxiliary subunit of Example 1 with the rat α_(1B)+β_(1b) calcium channel subunits were tested by comparing average current density (I_(peak)/cell capacitance) with and without α₂δ-2.

Mean current density was recorded for 4 cells transfected with rat α_(1B)+β_(1b) only and for 7 cells that were also cotransfected with rat brain α₂δ-2 subunit. The rat α_(1B)+β_(1b) current density was increased by ˜4 fold from −7.2±2.3 pA/pF to −30.0±4.1 pA/pF when coexpressed with the rat brain α₂δ-2 subunit. P=0.01, Student's unpaired t-test. Values are the mean±S.E.M (FIG. 4).

B. Transient Transfection in Xenopus Oocytes

Stage V and VI Xenopus oocytes are prepared as described by Dascal, et al., Science (1986) 231:1147-1150. After enzymatic dissociation with collagenase, oocyte nuclei are microinjected with the rat α₂δ-2 subunit cDNA expression vector construct (approximately 10 ng DNA per nucleus) using a Drummond nanoject apparatus, alone, or in combination with other rat, human or other mammalian or animal calcium channel subunit cDNA's, such as the α₁ and β_(1b) subunit cDNA. After incubation from 48 to 96 hours macroscopic currents are recorded using a standard two microelectrode voltage-clamp (Axoclamp 2A, Axon Instruments, Burlingame, Calif.) in a bathing medium containing (in mM): 40 Ba(OH)₂, 25 TEA-OH, 25 NaOH, 2 CsOH, 5 HEPES (pH titrated to 7.3 with methan-sulfonic acid). Pipettes of typical resistance ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mΩ are filled with 2.8M CsCl, 0.2M CsOH, 10 mM HEPES, 10 mM BAPTA free acid. Endogenous Ca (and Ba)—activated Cl currents are suppressed by systematically injecting 10-30 nl of a solution containing 100 mM BAPTA-free acid, 10 mM HEPES (pH titrated to 7.2 with CsOH) using a third pipette connected to a pneumatic injector. Leak currents and capacitive transients are subtracted using a standard P/5 procedure.

EXAMPLE 3 Construction of Stable Cell Lines Expressing Rat α₂δ-2 Calcium Channels

Mammalian cell lines stably expressing the rat brain α₂δ-2 calcium channel were made by transfecting an expression vector containing the α₂δ-2 calcium channel cDNA plus the rat β1b cDNA into HEK 293F cells, and selecting for cells resistant to Zeocin. Briefly, the full-length rat α₂δ-2 subunit cDNA (clone 27) was excised from the pBK-RSV vector by digestion with Hind III followed by treatment with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I to generate a blunt end and subsequent digestion with Kpn I. The mammalian expression vector pBud CE 4 rat β1b clone 3 was digested with Not I followed by Klenow treatment and digestion with Kpn 1. The rat α2δ-2 fragment was ligated (blunt/sticky) into pBud CE4 rat β1b to give a final construct pBud rat α2δ-2/rat β1b clone 3. Prior to making stable cell lines expressing the two subunits, the expression and activity of the subunits were tested by transient transfection and patch clamp analysis (see protocol Example 2). The pBud rat α2δ-2/rat β1b construct was linearized with Pvu I and transfected into HEK 293F cells using lipofectamine. The transfected cells are incubated for 16 hours at 37° C., 5% CO₂, then placed in nonselective medium for an additional 24 hours. The cells were trypsinized and plated at low density in selective medium containing Zeocin at 250 μg/ml. After 14-16 days in selective medium, cells that were resistant to Zeocin grew as visible colonies which were harvested by the pipet technique. Cell colonies were expanded to make frozen stocks of cells and to determine the level of rat α₂δ-2 subunit expression. Rat α₂δ-2 subunit expression levels for the cell lines were determined by Northern blotting and reverse-transcriptase PCR. Detection of functional calcium channels containing the rat α₂δ-2 subunit in stably transfected cells is examined electrophysiologically, such as by whole cell patch clamp or single channel analysis (see above). Other means of detecting functional calcium channels include the use of radiolabeled ⁴⁵Ca uptake, or fluorescence spectroscopy using calcium sensitive dyes such as FURA-2.

EXAMPLE 4

Novel α₂δ-3 subunits of the invention were identified using RT-PCR of rat brain total RNA and by screening a rat brain cDNA library. Screening of the cDNA library followed standard methods and included infecting bacteria with recombinant lambda phage and immobilizing lambda DNA onto nylon filters (Hybond-N, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech).

A rat α₂δ-3 cDNA probe of 470 bp (1789-2258) was amplified from rat brain total RNA using One-Step RT-PCR (Superscript, Invitrogen) with primers designed to a conserved region of the mouse and human α₂δ-3 genes as follows: 1789F 5′-GTGTCCTTGGCAGATGAATGGTCCTAC-3′; (SEQ ID NO:18) 2258R 5′-GATGTACTTGCTGTCACCACATTGCT-3′. (SEQ ID NO:19)

The resulting rat α₂δ-3 PCR product was ligated into pGEM-T easy (Promega) (clone 1) and sequenced. The rat α₂δ-3 cDNA fragment was excised from the pGEM vector with Not I and radiolabeled with [α³²P] dCTP using the Multi-Prime DNA Labeling System (Amersham). Free α³²P dCTP was removed by passage through a Centri Spin—20 column (Princeton Separations). Approximately 300,000 plaque forming units (pfus) were screened with the radiolabeled probe using moderate hybridization (55° C.) in Church and Gilbert's solution and a final high stringency wash condition of 0.2×SSC/0.1% SDS (60° C., 30 min). Bacteriophage that hybridized to the rat α₂δ-3 radiolabeled probe were purified by sequential rounds of screening and the phagemid cDNA (pBluescript SK+) isolated by in vivo excision using the ExAssist helper phage with SOLAR Strain E. coli according to the manufacturer's instructions (Stratagene).

Four positive clones were purified by excision, sequenced and found to contain cDNA fragments of the rat α₂δ-3 mRNA. Two different size cDNA fragments were obtained, two of 1,625 bp and two of 1,407 bp, of which one clone from each size was completely sequenced. Both clones were missing approximately 1,500 bp of 5′ ORF. Clone 7-2-1-4 (1,625 bp) had more 5′ region, but truncated approximately 70 bp before the stop codon. Clone 7-3-1-1 (1,407 bp) starts at 1,766 bp and includes the stop signal and a portion of the 3′ UTR, but is missing approximately 426 bp (2,451-2,877) of coding sequence in the 3′ region of rat α₂δ-3 mRNA. Translation of clone 7-3-1-1 into the protein sequence revealed that this clone is a splice variant with a deletion of 142 amino acids (FIG. 3). In order to obtain the 5′ region of the rat α₂δ-3 mRNA, an antisense primer: 2021R 5′-ATCGCTTCCAGTTGAGAGAGATGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:20)

was made to the rat brain α₂δ-3 cDNA and a sense primer to the rat atrial α₂δ-3 cDNA sequence (AF486278, SEQ. ID. NO:4): 1F 5-′ATGGCCGGGCCGGGCTCGCTGTGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:21) and used in One-Step RT-PCR to amplify a 2,018 bp cDNA fragment.

The PCR products were cloned into pGEM-T easy and two clones were completely sequenced and identified to be rat α₂δ-3. These clones extended from the start codon (ATG) to position 2,018 bp. A full-length rat α₂δ-3 cDNA was constructed using the PCR 5′ fragment (clone 1) and the two clones 7-2-1-4 and 7-3-1-1. Clone 1 was digested with Not I/Sac I and the lambda clone 7-2-1-4 digested with Sac I/Kpn I. These two cDNA fragments were three way ligated into pBK/RSV at the Not I/Kpn I sites. The full-length rat α₂δ-3 cDNA was constructed in the mammalian expression vector pBud CE4 (Not I/Kpn I) using a three way ligation of a Not I/Ban I digested fragment of pBK/RSV clone 1/7-2-1-4 (Ban I cuts at position 3,087 in the cDNA) and a Ban I/Kpn I digested fragment of clone 7-3-1-1.

The full-length rat brain α₂δ-3 cDNA clone (clone 1/7-2-1-4) has SEQ. ID. NO:5: ngth rat brain α₂δ-3 calcium channel subunit nucleotide sequence (SEQ. ID. NO:5) 1 ATG GCC GGG CCG GGC TCG CTG TGC TGC GCG TCC CGG GGG GCC TCG GCG CTC CTA GCC ACC GCG CTT 67 CTC TAC GCC GCG CTG GGG GAC GTG GTG CGC TCC GAG CAG CAG ATG CCG CTC TCC GTA GTG AAG CTC 133 TGG GCC TCC GCT TTT GGT GGG GAG ATA AAA TCC ATT GCT GCC AAG TAC TCG GGT TCC CAG CTT CTG 199 CAA AAG AAA TAC AAA GAG TAT GAG AAA GAC GTT GCC ATT GAA GAA ATC GAC GGT CTC CAA CTG GTG 265 AAA AAG CTG GCC AAG AAC ATG GAA GAG ATG TTT CAC AAG AAG TCC GAG GCA GTG CGG CGT CTC GTG 331 GAG GCT GCA GAG GAA GGA CAC CTG AAG CAT GAA TTT GAC GCC GAC TTG CAG TAT GAA TAC TTC AAT 397 GCC GTG CTG ATC AAC GAG AGA GAC AAA GAT GGG AAC TTT TTG GAA TTG GGA AAG GAG TTC ATC TTG 463 GCC CCC AAT GAC CAT TTT AAT AAT TTG CCT GTG AAC ATC AGT CTG AGT GAT GTC CAA GTG CCA ACG 529 AAC ATG TAC AAC AAA GAT CCT GCC ATA GTC AAT GGA GTG TAT TGG TCT GAA TCT CTA AAC AAA GTT 595 TTT GTA GAC AAC TTC GAT CGG GAC CCG TCT CTC ATA TGG CAG TAC TTT GGA AGT GCA AAG GGC TTT 661 TTC AGA CAG TAC CCA GGG ATT AAA TGG GAA CCA GAC GAG AAT GGA GTC ATT GCC TTT GAC TGC AGG 727 AAC AGG AAA TGG TAC ATC CAG GCA GCA ACT TCT CCA AAG GAT GTG GTC ATT TTG GTG GAC GTC AGC 793 GGG AGC ATG AAA GGA CTC CGC CTG ACC ATC GCC AAG CAA ACA GTC TCC TCG ATA CTG GAC ACC CTG 859 GGC GAT GAT GAC TTC TTC AAC ATC ATC ACG TAT AAC GAA GAG CTT CAC TAT GTG GAA CCT TGT CTG 925 AAT GGA ACA CTG GTT CAA GCG GAC AGG ACC AAC AAG GAG CAC TTC AGG GAG CAT TTG GAC AAA CTT 991 TTT GCC AAA GGG ATT GGA ATG CTC GAT ATT GCG CTG AAC GAG GCC TTC AAT GTA CTG AGC GAT TTC 1057 AAC CAC ACC GGA CAA GGA AGC ATT TGC ACG CAG GCC ATT ATG CTC ATA ACC GAT GGG GCA GTG GAC 1123 ACC TAC GAC ACC ATC TTT GCA AAG TAC AAT TGG CCA GAG CGA AAG GTT CGA ATC TTC ACT TAC CTC 1189 ATT GGA CGA GAG GCT GCT TTT GCA GAC AAT CTC AAG TGG ATG GCT TGT GCT AAC AAA GGA TTT TTC 1255 ACC CAG ATC TCC ACC TTG GCT GAT GTG CAG GAA AAT GTC ATG GAA TAC CTC CAT GTA CTC AGT CGA 1321 CCC AAA GTC ATC GAC CAG GAA CAT GAT GTG GTG TGG ACC GAA GCG TAC ATC GAC AGC ACT CTC CCT 1387 CAG GCT CAA AAG CTT GCT GAT GAT CAG GGC CTC GTC TTG ATG ACC ACA GTG GCC ATG CCT GTG TTT 1453 AGT AAG CAG AAC GAA ACT AGG TCA AAG GGC ATT CTT CTG GGT GTG GTT GGC ACA GAT GTC CCA GTA 1519 AAA GAG CTT CTG AAG ACC ATC CCC AAA TAC AAG TTA GGA ATT CAT GGT TAT GCC TTT GCC ATC ACG 1585 AAT AAT GGA TAC ATC TTG ACA CAC CCG GAG CTC AGG CCC CTG TAT GAA GAA GGG AAA AAG CGA AGG 1651 AAG CCT AAT TAC AGT AGT GTG GAT CTC TCG GAA GTC GAG TGG GAA GAT CGG GAT GAT GTG TTA CGA 1717 AAT GCC ATG GTG AAT CGG AAG ACT GGG AAA TTC TCC ATG GAA GTG AAG AAG ACT GTG GAC AAA GGG 1783 AAA CGG GTT TTG GTG ATG ACC AAT GAC TAC TAC TAC ACA GAC ATC AAG GGT GCT CCT TTC AGT TTA 1849 GGT GTG GCG CTC TCC AGG GGC CAC GGG AAA TAC TTC TTC CGA GGG AAT GTA ACC ATT GAA GAA GGG 1915 CTC CAT GAC TTA GAA CAT CCT GAC GTG TCC TTG GCA GAT GAA TGG TCC TAC TGC AAC ACT GAT CTG 1981 CAC CCA GAG CAC CGC CAT CTC TCT CAA CTG GAA GCG ATT AAG CTC TAC CTC AAA GGC AAG GAG CCT 2047 CTG CTT CAA TGT GAC AAA GAA TTG ATT CAA GAA GTC CTT TTT GAT GCT GTG GTA AGC GCC CCT ATC 2113 GAA GCC TAT TGG ACC AGC CTG GCC CTC AAC AAA TCT GAG AAT TCT GAC AAG GGT GTA GAG GTC GCC 2179 TTC CTC GGC ACT CGC ACA GGC CTC TCA AGA ATC AAC CTG TTT GTG GGG GCT GAA CAG CTC ACC AAT 2245 CAG GAC TTT CTG AAG GCT AGA GAC AAA GAG AAC ATT TTC AAC GCA GAT CAT TTC CCT CTC TGG TAC 2311 AGA AGA GCT GCC GAG CAG ATT CCA GGA AGT TTT GTC TAC TCC ATC CCC TTC AGC ACA GGA ACG GTC 2377 AAC AAA AGC AAT GTG GTG ACA GCA AGT ACC TCC ATC CAA CTC CTG GAT GAG CGA AAA TCT CCT GTG 2443 GTG GCA GCT GTA GGC ATT CAG ATG AAA CTT GAA TTC TTC CAA AGG AAG TTC TGG ATG GCC AGC AGA 2509 CAG TGT GCC TCC CTG GAT GGT AAA TGC TCC ATA AGC TGC GAC GAT GAG ACT GTG AAC TGT TAC CTC 2575 ATA GAC AAT AAC GGG TTC ATT CTG GTG TCT GAA GAC TAC ACA CAG ACT GGA GAT TTT TTT GGT GAG 2641 GTC GAA GGA GCT GTC ATG AAC AAG TTG TTA ACA ATG GGC TCC TTT AAA AGA ATA ACC TTG TAT GAC 2707 TAC CAA GCC ATG TGT AGA GCC AAC AAG GAG AGT AGT GAC AGT GCC CAC GGA CTC CTG GAC CCC TAT 2773 AAG GCC TTC CTC TCT GCA GCC AAG TGG ATA GTG ACG GAA CTT GTC TTG TTC CTG GTG GAG TTT AAC 2839 CTT TGC AGT TGG TGG CAC TCT GAC ATG ACA GCT AAA GCC CAG AAA CTG AAA CAG ACC CTG GAG CCT 2905 TGT GAT ACT GAA TAC CCA GCC TTT GTT TCC GAA CGC ACC ATC AAG GAG ACC ACA GGG AAC ATT GCT 2971 TGT GAA GAC TGC TCC AAG TCC TTT GTC ATC CAG CAA ATC CCA AGT AGC AAT CTG TTC ATG GTG GTG 3037 GTG GAC AGT AGC TGT CTC TGT GAG TCT GTG GCT CCT ATC ACC ATG GCA CCC ATT GAA ATC AGG TAT 3103 AAT GAA TCC CTT AAG TGT GAA CGG TTA AAG GCT CAG AAG ATC AGA CGA CGT CCG GAA TCC TGC CAC 3169 GGC TTC CAT CCT GAG GAG AAT GCG AGA GAG TGT GGG GGT GCA TCA AGT CTC CAG GCC CAG GTG GCC 3235 TTG CTG CTG CTC CCC CTG GTT TCG AGT CTC TTC TCA AGG TGA CAC TAA CTA ATG GGA TGT TCT TTT 3301 GGC ATG CTA TAA ATC ATG GAT AAA CTG TGA ACC CAA CTA TGG TGC GAC ATA GAA GAC ATA AGC ATA 3367 GCC CAG CCA TCA GCA TCT CAT GAT TTT AAA CTG TGT GTG ATA GAA ACT CTA ACA GGT ACA CTG ACC 3433 AAA AGT TCT CTT TTT ACT TTG CCA ATC ATG CAA ATG TGA GTG CCA CAT GAC CAC CCT TCA TCA GAA 3499 ATG GGG CTG TAC TGG GTA GGC AGT GGC CTT CTG CTT GAA AAC CAT GGA AAC CAA TTT AAA ACT GTG 3565 TAC TTT TTA AAT AAA GTA TAT TAA AAT CAT AAA A and the deduced amino acid sequence of full-length rat brain α₂δ-3 subunit is SEQ. ID. NO:6.

Translated full-length rat brain α₂δ-3 amino acid sequence (SEQ. ID. NO:6) 1 MAGPGSLCCA SRGASALLAT ALLYAALGDV VRSEQQIPLS VVKLWASAFG 51 GEIKSIAAKY SGSQLLQKKY KEYEKDVAIE EIDGLQLVKK LAKNMEEMFH 101 KKSEAVRRLV EAAEEAHLKH EFDADLQYEY FNAVLINERD KDGNFLELGK 151 EFILAPNDHF NNLPVNISLS DVQVPTNMYN KDPAIVNGVY WSESLNKVFV 201 DNFDRDPSLI WQYFGSAKGF FRQYPGIKWE PDENGVIAFD CRNRKWYIQA 251 ATSPKDVVIL VDVSGSMKGL RLTIAKQTVS SILDTLGDDD FFNIITYNEE 301 LHYVEPCLNG TLVQADRTNK EHFREHLDKL FAKGIGMLDI ALNEAFNVLS 351 DFNHTGQGSI CSQAIMLITD GAVDTYDTIF ADYNWPERKV RIFTYLIGRE 401 AAFADNLKWM ACANKGFFTQ ISTLADVQEN VMEYLHVLSR PKVIDQEHDV 451 VWTEAYIDST LPQAQKLADD QGLVLMTTVA MPVFSKQNET RSKGILLGVV 501 GTDVPVKELL KTIPKYKLGI HGYAFAITNN GYILTHPELR PLYEEGKKRR 551 KPNYSSVDLS EVEWEDRDDV LRNAMVNRKT GKFSMEVKKT VDKGKRVLVM 601 TNDYYYTDIK GAPFSLGVAL SRGHGKYFFR GNVTIEEGLH DLEHPDVSLA 651 DEWSYCNTDL HPEHRHLSQL EAIKLYLKGK EPLLQCDKEL IQEVLFDAVV 701 SAPIEAYWTS LALNKSENSD KGVEVAFLGT RTGLSRINLF VGAEQLTNQD 751 FLKARDKENI FNADHFPLWY RRAAEQIPGS FVYSIPFSTG TVNKSNVVTA 801 STSIQLLDER KSPVVAAVGI QMKLEFFQRK FWMASRQCAS LDGKCSISCD 851 DETVNCYLID NNGFILVSED YTQTGDFFGE VEGAVMNKLL TMGSFKRITL 901 YDYQAMCRAN KESSDSAHGL LDPYKAFLSA AKWIVTELVL FLVEFNLCSW 951 WHSDMTAKAQ KLKQTLEPCD TEYPAFVSER TIKETTGNIA CEDCSKSFVI 1001 QQIPSSNLFM VVVDSSCLCE SVAPITMAPI EIRYNESLKC ERLKAWKIRR 1051 RPESCHGFHP EENARECGGA SSLQAQVALL LLPLVSSLFS R*

The rat brain 026-3 truncated variant cDNA clone (clone 1/7-3-1-1) has SEQ. ID. NO:8: Truncated rat brain 026-3 variant calcium channel subunit nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) 1 ATGGCCGGGC CGGGCTCGCT GTGCTGCGCG TCCCGGGGGG CCTCGGCGCT 51 CCTAGCCACC GCGCTTCTCT ACGCCGCGCT GGGGGACGTG GTGCGCTCCG 101 AGCAGCAGAT CCCGCTCTCC GTAGTGAAGC TCTGGGCCTC CGCTTTTGGT 151 GGGGAGATAA AATCCATTGC TGCCAAGTAC TCGGGTTCCC AGCTTCTGCA 201 AAAGAAATAC AAAGAGTATG AGAAAGACGT TGCCATTGAA GAAATCGACG 251 GTCTCCAACT GGTGAAAAAG GTGGCCAAGA ACATGGAAGA GATGTTTCAC 301 AAGAAGTCCG AGGCAGTGCG GCGTCTCGTG GAGGCTGCAG AGGAAGCACA 351 GCTGAAGCAT GAATTTGACG CCGACTTGCA GTATGAATAC TTCAATGCCG 401 TGCTGATCAA CGAGAGAGAC AAAGATGGGA ACTTTTTGGA ATTGGGAAAG 451 GAGTTCATGT TGGCCCCGAA TGACCATTTT AATAATTTGC CTGTGAACAT 501 CAGTCTGAGT GATGTCCAAG TGCCAACGAA CATGTAGAAC AAAGATCGTG 551 CCATAGTCAA TGGAGTGTAT TGGTCTGAAT CTCTAAACAA AGTTTTTGTA 601 GACAACTTCG ATCGGGACCC GTCTCTCATA TGGCAGTACT TTGGAAGTGC 651 AAAGGGCTTT TTCAGAGAGT ACCCAGGGAT TAAATGGGAA CCAGACGAGA 701 ATGGAGTCAT TGCCTTTGAC TGCAGGAACA GGAAATGGTA CATCCAGGCA 751 GCAAGTTCTC CAAAGGATGT GGTCATTTTG GTGGACGTCA GCGGGAGCAT 801 GAAAGGACTC CGCCTGACCA TCGCCAAGCA AACAGTCTCC TCGATACTGG 851 ACACCCTGGG CGATGATGAC TTCTTCAACA TCATCACGTA TAACGAAGAG 901 CTTCACTATG TGGAACCTTG TCTGAATGGA ACACTGGTTC AAGCGGACAG 951 GACCAACAAG GAGCACTTCA GGGAGCATTT GGACAAACTT TTTGCCAAAG 1001 GGATTGGAAT GCTCGATATT GCGCTGAACG AGGCCTTCAA TGTACTGAGC 1051 GATTTCAACC ACACCGGACA AGGAAGCATT TGCAGCCAGG CCATTATGCT 1101 CATAACCGAT GGGGCAGTGG ACACCTACGA CACCATCTTT GCAAAGTACA 1151 ATTGGCCAGA GCGAAAGGTT CGAATCTTCA CTTACCTCAT TGGACGAGAG 1201 GCTGCTTTTG CAGACAATCT CAAGTGGATG GCTTGTGCTA ACAAAGGATT 1251 TTTCACCCAG ATCTCCACCT TGGCTGATGT GCAGGAAAAT GTCATGGAAT 1301 ACCTCCATGT ACTCAGTCGA CCCAAAGTCA TCGACCAGGA ACATGATGTG 1351 GTGTGGACCG AAGCGTACAT CGACAGCACT CTCCCTCAGG CTCAAAAGCT 1401 TGCTGATGAT CAGGGCCTCG TCTTGATGAC CACAGTGGCC ATGCCTGTGT 1451 TTAGTAAGCA GAACGAAACT AGGTCAAAGG GCATTCTTCT GGGTGTGGTT 1501 GGCACAGATG TCCCAGTAAA AGAGCTTCTG AAGACCATCC CCAAATACAA 1551 GTTAGGAATT CATGGTTATG CCTTTGCCAT CACGAATAAT GGATACATCT 1601 TGACACACCC GGAGCTCAGG CCCCTGTATG AAGAAGGGAA AAAGCGAAGG 1651 AAGCCTAATT ACAGTAGTGT GGATCTCTCG GAAGTCGAGT GGGAAGATCG 1701 GGATGATGTG TTACGAAATG CCATGGTGAA TCGGAAGACT GGGAAATTCT 1751 CCATGGAAGT GAAGAAGACT GTGGACAAAG GGAAACGGGT TTTGGTGATG 1801 ACCAATGACT ACTACTACAC AGACATCAAG GGTCCTCCTT TCAGTTTAGG 1851 TGTGGCGCTC TCCAGGGGCC ACGGGAAATA CTTCTTCCGA GGGAATGTAA 1901 CCATTGAAGA ACGGCTCCAT GACTTAGAAC ATCCTCACGT GTCCTTCGCA 1951 CATCAATGGT CCTACTGCAA CACTGATCTG CACCCAGAGC ACCGCCATCT 2001 CTCTCAACTG GAAGCGATTA AGCTCTACCT CAAAGGCAAG GAGCCTCTCC 2051 TTCAATGTGA CAAAGAATTG ATTCAAGAAG TCCTTTTTGA TGCTGTGGTA 2101 AGCGCCCCTA TCGAAGCCTA TTGGACCAGC CTGCCCCTCA ACAAATCTGA 2151 GAATTCTGAC AAGGGTGTAG AGGTCGCCTT CCTCGGCACT CGCACAGGCC 2201 TCTCAAGAAT CAACCTGTTT GTGGGGGCTG AACAGCTCAC CAATCAGGAC 2251 TTTCTGAAGG CTAGAGACAA AGAGAACATT TTCAACGCAG ATCATTTCCC 2301 TCTCTGGTAC AGAAGAGCTC CCCAGCAGAT TCCAGGAAGT TTTGTCTACT 2351 CCATCCCCTT CAGCACACGA ACGGTCAACA AAAGCAATGT GGTGACAGCA 2401 AGTACCTCCA TCCAACTCCT GGATGAGCGA AAATCTCCTG TGGTGGCAGC 2451 CCAGAAACTG AAACAGACCC TGGAGCCTTG TGATACTGAA TACCCACCCT 2501 TTGTTTCCGA ACGCACCATC AAGGAGACCA CAGGGAACAT TGCTTGTGAA 2551 GACTGCTCCA AGTCCTTTGT CATCCAGCAA ATCCCAAGTA GCAATCTGTT 2601 CATGGTGGTG GTGGACAGTA GCTGTCTCTG TGAGTCTGTG GCTCCTATCA 2651 CCATGGCACC CATTGAAATC AGGTATAATG AATCCCTTAA GTGTGAACGG 2701 TTAAAGGCTC AGAAGATCAG ACGACGTCCG GAATCCTGCC ACGGCTTCCA 2751 TCCTGAGGAG AATGCGAGAG AGTGTGGGGG TGCATCAAGT CTCCAGGCCC 2801 AGGTGGCCTT GCTGCTGCTC CCCCTGGTTT CGAGTCTCTT CTCAAGGTGA 2851 CACTAACTAA TCCGATGTTC TTTTGGCATG CTATAAATCA TGGATAAACT 2901 GTGAACCCAA CTATGGTGCG ACATAGAAGA CATAAGCATA GCCCAGCCAT 2951 CAGCATCTCA TGATTTTAAA CTGTGTGTGA TAGAAACTCT AACACGTACA 3001 CTGACCAAAA GTTCTCTTTT TACTTTGCCA ATCATGCAAA TGTGAGTGCC 3051 ACATGACCAC CCTTCATCAG AAATGGGGCT GTACTGGGTA CGCAGTGGCC 3101 TTCTGCTTGA AAACGATGGA AACCAATTTA AAACTGTGTA CTTTTTAAAT 3151 AAAGTATATT AAAATCATAA AA and the deduced amino acid sequence of rat brain α₂δ-3 truncated variant is SEQ. ID. NO:9:

Translated rat brain α₂δ-3 variant amino acid sequence (SEQ. ID. NO:9) 1 MAGPGSLCCA SRGASALLAT ALLYAALGDV VRSEQQIPLS VVKLWASAFG 51 GEIKSIAAKY SGSQLLQKKY KEYEKDVAIE EIDGLQLVKK LAKNMEEMFH 101 KKSEAVRRLV EAAEEAHLKH EFDADLQYEY FNAVLINERD KDGNFLELGK 151 EFILAPNDHF NNLPVNISLS DVQVPTNMYN KDPAIVNGVY WSESLNKVFV 201 DNFDRDPSLI WQYFGSAKGF FRQYPGIKWE PDENGVIAFD CRNRKWYIQA 251 ATSPKDVVIL VDVSGSMKGL RLTIAKQTVS SILDTLGDDD FFNIITYNEE 301 LHYVEPCLNG TLVQADRTNK EHFREHLDKL FAKGIGMLDI ALNEAFNVLS 351 DFNHTGQGSI CSQAIMLITD GAVDTYDTIF AKYNWPERKV RIFTYLIGRE 401 AAFADNLKWM ACANKGFFTQ ISTLADVQEN VMEYLHVLSR PKVIDQEHDV 451 VWTEAYIDST LPQAQKLADD QGLVLMTTVA MPVFSKQNET RSKGILLGVV 501 GTDVPVKELL KTIPKYKLGI HGYAFAITNN GYILTHPELR PLYEEGKKRR 551 KPNYSSVDLS EVEWEDRDDV LRNAMVNRKT GKFSMEVKKT VDKGKRVLVM 601 TNDYYYTDIK GAPFSLGVAL SRGHGKYFFR GNVTIEEGLH DLEHPDVSLA 651 DEWSYCNTDL HPEHRHLSQL EAIKLYLKGK EPLLQCDKEL IQEVLFDAVV 701 SAPIEAYWTS LALNKSENSD KGVEVAFLGT RTGLSRINLF VGAEQLTNQD 751 FLKARDKENI FNADHFPLWY RRAAEQIPGS FVYSIPFSTG TVNKSNVVTA 801 STSIQLLDER KSPVVAAQKL KQTLEPCDTE YPAFVSERTI KETTGNIACE 851 DCSKSFVIQQ IPSSNLFMVV VDSSCLCESV APITMAPIEI RYNESLKCER 901 LKAQKIRRRP ESCHGFHPEE NARECGGASS LQAQVALLLL PLVSSLFSR*

EXAMPLE 5 Screening for Calcium Channel Blockers

The whole-cell patch clamp recording technique used is as described in Example 2 to screen for calcium channel blockers. Test compounds are added daily to the extracellular recording solution from a stock concentration of 1 mM (in DMSO) for each experiment. Compounds are then applied directly onto the HEK cells by means of a custom-made gravity-driven perfusion system, which changes the solution around the cell in less than 1 s. Differences in the mean peak current densities in the absence and presence of compounds are measured to estimate the concentration of compound required to occupy 50% of the channels (K_(d)). The K_(d) is estimated using the equation K_(d)=α[drug]/1−α. 

1. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a calcium channel subunit having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO:9, or a fragment thereof which encodes a functional α₂δ-2 or a functional α₂δ-3 subunit.
 2. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule which comprises a nucleotide sequence as set forth in claim 1, operably linked to control sequences to effect its expression.
 3. The nucleic acid of claim 2, wherein said control sequences are operable in vertebrate cells.
 4. Recombinant host cells which contain the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 2. 5. Vertebrate host cells which contain the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 3. 6. The vertebrate host cells of claim 5, wherein said cells further comprise an expression vector which comprises an expression control sequence operably linked to a nucleotide sequence which encodes an a, calcium channel subunit.
 7. A method to prepare cells that display functional calcium ion channel, which method comprises culturing cells which display an a, subunit and which further comprise the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 2. 8. Recombinant cells prepared by the method of claim
 7. 